Portland Public Library

Jane Austen's letters, collected and edited by Deirdre Le Faye

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 471-481) and indexes

individual biography

index present

non fiction

Jane Austen's letters

bibliography

711831496

collected and edited by Deirdre Le Faye

This fourth edition incorporates the findings of new scholarship to enrich our understanding of Austen and give us the fullest and most revealing view yet of her life and family. There is a new preface, the biographical and topographical indexes have been amended and updated, a new subject index has been created, and the contents of the notes added to the general indexOverview: Jane Austen's letters afford a unique insight into the daily life of the novelist: intimate and gossipy, observant and informative-they read much like the novels themselves. They bring alive her family and friends, her surroundings and contemporary events, all with a freshness unparalleled in modern biographies. Most important, we recognize the unmistakable voice of the author of such novels as Pride and Prejudice and Emma. We see the shift in her writing from witty and amusing descriptions of the social life of town and country, to a thoughtful and constructive tone while writing about the business of literary composition. R.W. Chapman's ground-breaking edition of the collected letters first appeared in 1932, and a second edition followed twenty years later. A third edition, edited Deirdre Le Faye in 1997 added new material, re-ordered the letters into their correct chronological sequence, and provided discreet and full annotation to each letter, including its provenance, and information on the watermarks, postmarks, and other physical details of the manuscripts. This new fourth edition incorporates the findings of recent scholarship to further enrich our understanding of Austen and give us the fullest and most revealing view yet of her life and family. In addition, Le Faye has written a new preface, has amended and updated the biographical and topographical indexes, has introduced a new subject index, and had added the contents of the notes to the general index. Teachers, students, and fans of Jane Austen, at all levels, will find in these letters remarkable insight into one of the most popular novelists ever

Preface to the fourth edition -- List of letters -- Jane Austen's letters -- Abbreviations and citations -- Notes -- General notes on the letters -- Select bibliography -- Biographical index -- Topographical index -- Subject index -- General index